999.

5(d)(5)(E)
Description of policies and procedures on staffing for patient care areas, employee input on health
quality and staffing, and employee wages, salaries, benefits, working conditions and employment
protections

St. Vincent Medical Center (SVMC)

Note that Daughters of Charity Health System refers to employees as associates or employees.

Staffing of Patient Care Areas:

SVMC has established policies and procedures to ensure adequate staffing levels for its patient care areas.
See the attached staffing documents for SVMC in Exhibit A.
Employee Input on Health Quality and Staffing Issues:
All employees have a variety of ways to provide input to hospital leaders:

Employees can bring up suggestions in staff meetings, in meetings one-on-one with their
immediate supervisor, and in all hands town hall meetings with the hospital CEO and other
leaders.

Employees may raise suggestions or concerns to human resources or, if represented by a labor
organization, to their union steward.

SVMC periodically conducts an employee satisfaction and engagement survey and solicits
employee input and feedback on the associates immediate supervisor; pay and benefits; hiring,
promotion and opportunity; quality, competency and staffing; upper management, job
engagement, and organizational engagement among other topics. Action plans are developed and
implemented to communicate the survey results to associates and address areas for improvement.
Recent survey results are attached in Exhibit E.

On-line Incident Report system available 24/7. Employees are able to complete a report on any
issue on-line and it is forwarded to the appropriate person for response.

The CEO has a blog for employees to add comments or ask questions (Cathys Blog).

Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) is available for Registered Nurses to provide input on
health or staffing issues. A copy is available for the California Nurses Association (CNA) and
SVMC.

The Associate Safety Assurance Program is designed to provide data for a designated committee
to review, analyze, and make recommendations for SVMC to be a safer place to work.

SVMC has an Open Door Policy, which provides that non-represented associates voices,
concerns, and suggestions are heard and responded to. Union-represented associates may use the
grievance procedure as outlined in their respective collective bargaining agreements.

Associates are encouraged to participate on Committees such as the In-Patient and Outpatient
Satisfaction Committee, Rewards and Recognition Committee, LOVE Committee on Behavioral
Standards and Clinic Satisfaction Committee.

Employee Wages, Salaries and Benefits:

2

See pages 8-11 and 35-44 of the SVMC Associate Handbook (attached as Exhibit B) for
information about wages and other components of compensation and benefits. Exhibit D
(attached) provides a list of positions and salary ranges for non-union positions. Wages, salaries,
and benefits for employees subject to collective bargaining agreements are covered by the terms
of those agreements.
Employee Working Conditions and Protections:
SVMC is committed to providing a healing environment that promotes safety, efficiency,
and productivity, as well as health, in a manner consistent with our mission and Vincentian
values. Please see page 3 of Exhibit B for our Mission and Values. Page 1 of Exhibit B
provides information regarding SVMC's Associate Relations Philosophy. Also refer to page
17 for information regarding Harassment and Discrimination and page 19 for the policy on Equal
Employment Opportunity. An explanation of the Discipline and Code of Conduct begins on page
22. Page 32 addresses safety and security and page 33 addresses Spiritual Care and welcomes
associates to our chapel for quiet meditation or to attend services. Pages 38 42 provides a
description of associate benefits.
SVMC complies with all state and federal laws providing protections to workers and provisions
of the negotiated collective bargaining agreements. In California, the employment relationship
is recognized as "at will" and is terminable at the option of the associate or SVMC, with or
without cause or advance notice, at any time. Employees subject to collective bargaining
agreements are covered by the protections outlined in their respective agreements.
SVMC is a party to the following collective bargaining agreements:

Collective Bargaining Agreement between SEIU-UHW United Healthcare Workers West

and O'Connor Hospital, Saint Louise Regional Hospital, Seton Medical Center, Seton
Medical Center Coastside, St. Francis Medical Center and St. Vincent Medical Center.
This agreement covers over 2500 employees who are generally members of technical

and service and maintenance bargaining units at the above listed hospitals. The
agreement addresses classifications, wages, premium pay, process for problem
resolution, seniority, lay off and recall, committees, discipline and discharge,
committees, and benefits, among other employment related matters.

Collective Bargaining Agreement between California Nurses Association and SVMC

This agreement covers the approximately 362 RNs at SVMC involved in direct

patient care. The agreement addresses employment categories, compensation and

hours of work, premium pay, process for problem resolution, seniority, staffing
system, committees, discipline and discharge, resolution of staffing disputes, and
benefits among other employment related matters.

List of SVMC Exhibits

List of Exhibits
Exhibit A: Staffing matrix, Description of How SVMC Staff Based on Volume, Plan for the Provision of
Patient Care FY2014.
Exhibit B: SVMC Associate Handbook.
Exhibit C: List of employment and human resources policies for SVMC.
Exhibit D: List of positions and salary ranges for SVMC positions not represented by a labor
organization.